Child swimsuit

Abstract

The invention relates to a swimsuit 100 for children comprising: a bodysuit 102 to cover the wearer’s torso, a portion of the arms and a portion of the legs; a hood 104 attached to the bodysuit; and a

Description

Field The present disclosure relates to a child swimsuit having safety features. Background Various garments and devices for use by children when swimming are known. These include swimsuits, buoyancy aids, hats, and devices forteaching swimming. Such devices are numerous, are often cumbersome, and in some cases are not compatible with one another. Summary There exists a need for an improved child swimsuit. Accordingly, the child swimsuit according to the present disclosure has been developed to address the problems identified above. In a first aspect, there is provided a child swimsuit, the swimsuit comprising: a body suit configured to cover the wearer’s torso, at least a portion of the wearer’s arms, and at least a portion of the wearer’s legs; a hood attached to the body suit, the hood configured to cover the wearer’s head; and at least one pouch provided in the body suit, the at least one pouch containing at least one buoyant insert therein; wherein each of the body suit and the hood comprises a UV-protective fabric. The child swimsuit of the first aspect incorporates, into a single article, the functionality of a swimming body suit, a hat, and a buoyancy aid. Therefore, the child swimsuit is not cumbersome, and enables a child to be well-protected from both the sun and from drowning without the need for the child to wear multiple separate articles of clothing. In a second aspect, there is provided a kit of parts comprising a child swimsuit and a plurality of buoyant inserts, wherein the child swimsuit comprises: a body suit configured to cover the wearer’s torso, at least a portion of the wearer’s arms, and at least a portion of the wearer’s legs; a hood attached to the body suit, the hood configured to cover the wearer’s head; and at least one pouch provided in the body suit, the at least one pouch configured for receiving at least one of the buoyant inserts therein; wherein each of the body suit and the hood comprises a UV-protective fabric. In a third aspect there is provided a kit of parts comprising a swimsuit according to the first aspect, and one or more buoyant inserts for inserting into the one or more pouches. By providing a kit according to the second aspect or the third aspect, the buoyancy of the swimsuit can be increased by adding buoyant insert(s) to the at least one pouch, and / or can be decreased by removing buoyant insert(s) from the at least one pouch. Therefore, the buoyancy can be adjusted as required. For example, buoyant inserts could be added for less confident or proficient swimmers, and gradually removed as swimming proficiency or confidence increases. Optional features of the first, second, and / or third aspects, will now be described. The at least one pouch may be provided in a portion of the body suit which is configured to cover the wearer’s torso. Portions of the body suit which are configured to cover the arms and legs may be free from the pouches. The swimsuit may comprise a closure, for example a zip, at a front of the body suit or at a rear of the body suit, for ease of putting on and taking off the swimsuit. The closure may be provided in a portion of the body suit which is configured to cover the wearer’s torso. The closure may extend along a vertical centreline of the swimsuit. Each of the at least one buoyant inserts may comprise a foam material, for example a closed-cell foam material, such as expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam. In addition to providing buoyancy, such materials are soft and compliant, so do not detrimentally affect the comfort or safety of the swimsuit. At least one pouch may be provided at a front of the body suit, and at least one pouch may be provided at a rear of the body suit. Each pouch may contain at least one buoyant insert therein. Two pouches may be provided at the front of the body suit. The two pouches provided at the front of the swimsuit may be arranged symmetrically relative to a vertical centreline of the swimsuit, i.e. symmetrically arranged on opposing lateral sides of the vertical centreline of the swimsuit from one another. Where a closure is provided at the front of the swimsuit, the closure may extend between the two pouches. Each pouch may contain at least one buoyant insert therein. Two pouches may be provided at the rear of the body suit. The two pouches provided at the rear of the swimsuit may be arranged symmetrically relative to a vertical centreline of the swimsuit, i.e. symmetrically arranged on opposing lateral sides of the vertical centreline of the swimsuit from one another. Each pouch may contain at least one buoyant insert therein. Each pouch may comprise an opening, for insertion of a buoyant insert therein or removal of a buoyant insert therefrom. Each pouch may comprise a closure for closing the opening. The / each closure may comprise a zip, or a hook-and-loop fastening. Alternatively, the / each opening may comprise two overlapping layers of fabric having an opening therebetween. The overlapping layers of fabric may be provided to retain buoyant inserts within the pouch, in a similar manner to a pillowcase. The / each opening may be provided in an inner side of the pouch, i.e. in a surface of the pouch which faces towards the wearer’s body in use. By providing the opening in the inner side of the pouch, accidental removal of buoyant inserts from the pouches is prevented while the swimsuit is being worn. Where there’s a plurality of pouches, the pouches may be of the same size and shape as one another. Each buoyant insert may have substantially the same size and shape as the pouch in which it is contained. Where there’s a plurality of buoyant inserts, the buoyant inserts may be of the same size and shape as one another. The swimsuit may be formed of a fabric having a Ultraviolet Protection Factor (“UPF”) rating of at least 20, for example of at least 50. The fabric of the swimsuit may also be elastic. In some examples, the fabric of the swimsuit may include an elastane material, such as Spandex® or Lycra®. For example, the fabric of the swimsuit may include between 10-20% elastane, such as between 10-20% Spandex®. The fabric of the swimsuit may also include nylon and / or polyester. At least some of the fabric used in the swimsuit may comprise a mix of nylon and elastane, for example 82% nylon and 18% elastane. At least some of the fabric used in the swimsuit may comprise a mix of polyester and elastane, for example 85% polyester and 15% elastane. For example, each of the body suit and the hood may be formed of a fabric having a UPF rating of at least 20 or at least 50, and / or a fabric which is elastic. The at least one pouch may also be formed of a fabric having a UPF rating of at least 20 or at least 50, and / or a fabric which is elastic. The body suit and the hood may be made of the same fabric as one another. The at least one pouch may also be made of the same fabric as the body suit and the hood. The body suit may be configured to cover at least 50% of the arms, for example at least 75% of the arms, such as substantially all of the arms. The body suit may be configured to cover at least 50% of the legs, for example at least 75% of the legs, such as substantially all of the legs. In a fourth aspect there is provided a method of preparing a swimsuit or kit according to any aspect for use by a child, the method comprising: determining a number of buoyant inserts required in each pouch in order to provide sufficient buoyancy to the child; and inserting the required number of buoyant inserts in each pouch. In a fifth aspect there is provided a method of teaching a child to swim using a swimsuit or kit according to any preceding claim, the method comprising: inserting at least two inserts into the at least one pouch in order to provide ample buoyancy to the child; and as the child’s swimming proficiency improves, gradually removing inserts from the swimsuit so as to gradually reduce the buoyancy provided by the swimsuit. Brief description of the drawings The present disclosure will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1a shows an image of a front view of a child swimsuit according to the present disclosure; Fig. 1 b shows a line drawing illustrating the front view of the child swimsuit of Fig. 1 a; Fig. 2a shows an image of a rear view of the child swimsuit of Fig. 1; Fig. 2b shows a line drawing illustrating the rear view of the child swimsuit of Fig. 2a; Fig. 3 shows a close-up of two pouches from the child swimsuit of Fig. 1; Fig. 4a shows a front view of the child swimsuit of Fig. 1 when worn; Fig. 4b shows a rear view of the child swimsuit of Fig. 1 when worn; Fig. 5 shows a child swimsuit according to a further example of the present disclosure; Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing a method of preparing the swimsuit of Fig. 1 for use by a child; and Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing a method of teaching a child to swim using the swimsuit of Fig. 1. Like reference numerals are used for like components throughout the drawings. Detailed description Figs. 1a-1b show a front view of a child swimsuit 100 according to the present disclosure. The swimsuit comprises a body suit 102, a hood 104, pouches 106 provided in the body suit 102, and a zip 108 provided in the body suit 102. The body suit, hood, and pouches may be formed from a fabric which comprises 82% nylon and 18% elastane, or from a fabric which comprises 85% polyester and 15% elastane. Some portions of the swimsuit may be formed from a fabric which comprises 82% nylon and 18% elastane, and other portions from a fabric which comprises 85% polyester and 15% elastane. The fabric which comprises 85% polyester and 15% elastane may have aesthetic detailing printed on it. This fabric has a UPF rating of 50+, and is elastic. The swimsuit is sized to be worn by a child. For example, the swimsuit may be sized to be worn by a baby (<1 year old), or by a toddler (1-3 years old), or by preschool-age (3-4 years old). A child swimsuit may therefore be defined as a swimsuit which is sized to be worn by a child of anywhere up to 4 years old. However, in some examples, a swimsuit may be provided for post-preschool age (e.g. 4-6 years old). The hood 104 is an integral component of the swimsuit 100. As shown, the hood 104 is adorned with decorative features, such as teeth-like patterning 110 on a front edge of the hood 104, decorative eyes 112 at a front of the hood 104, and a fin 114 at a rear of the hood 104. The hood 104 is sized to cover the neck, the top of the head, and the ears, but to leave the face exposed. In some examples, the fin 114 may not be included. The body suit 102 comprises a torso portion 116, arm portions 118, and leg portions 120. The zip 108 extends along a vertical centerline of the body suit 102, from a bottom edge of the torso portion 116 to a top edge of the torso portion 116. The zip 108 opens downwards, from the top edge of the torso portion 116 towards the bottom edge of the torso portion 116. Two pouches 106 are provided on the front of the torso portion 116. The two pouches 106 are provided on respective lateral sides of the zip 108. The pouches 106 are identical in size and shape to one another, but are the mirror image of each other. Each pouch 106 is configured to receive one or more buoyant inserts therein. The buoyant inserts may comprise expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam. Figs. 2a-2b show a rear view of the swimsuit 100. As shown in Figs. 2a-2b, two further pouches 106 are provided at a rear of the swimsuit 100. The two pouches 106 are similarly provided on respective lateral sides of a vertical centerline of the torso portion 116. The two pouches 106 are similarly identical in size and shape to one another, but are the mirror image of each other. Each pouch 106 is similarly configured to receive one or more buoyant inserts therein. The buoyant inserts may comprise expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam. A further fin 122 is provided at the rear of the torso portion 116. The fin 122 is attached to the torso portion 116 along the lateral centerline of the torso portion 116. The fin 122 may also include a buoyant insert therein. Accordingly, the fin 122 may also contribute to the buoyancy of the swimsuit 100. In some examples, the fin 122 may not be included. Fig. 3 shows a view of an inside of the swimsuit 100, and in particular an inside view of two of the pouches 106. As shown, each pouch includes an opening 124. Buoyant inserts 126 can be inserted into the pouches 106 using the openings 124, or removed from the pouches 106 using the openings. Accordingly, the buoyancy of the swimsuit 100 can be adjusted as required. As shown in Fig. 3, each pouch 106 comprises an overlap region 128 which comprises two overlapping sheets of fabric. Accordingly, the overlap region 128 secures the buoyant inserts 126 therein. The openings 124 are provided at a lower end of the overlap region 128. Because the openings 124 are at the inner surface of the pouches 106 (i.e. the side of the pouches which face inwards when the swimsuit is worn), inadvertent removal of the buoyant inserts 126 while the swimsuit 100 is being worn, is prevented. Fig. 4a shows a front view of the swimsuit 100 when worn. Fig. 4b shows a rear view of the swimsuit when worn. As shown, the arm portions 118 cover substantially all the arms. The leg portions 120 cover over 50% of the legs. As the reader will understand, the arm portions 118 may cover less of the arms than shown, for example at least 50% of the arms. Further, the leg portion 120 may cover more of the legs, for example at least 75% or substantially all of the legs. The swimsuit may be provided as a kit of parts comprising the swimsuit 100, and a plurality of buoyant inserts 126 for inserting into the pouches 106 as required. Methods of using the kit of parts are shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and described below. The kit may, for example, include 16 buoyant inserts (4 for inserting into each pouch 106). However, as the reader will understand, the kit may be provided with more than 16 buoyant inserts 126, or fewer than 16 buoyant inserts 126. Fig. 5 shows a child swimsuit 500 according to a further example of the present disclosure. The child swimsuit 500 is in most respects the same as the child swimsuit 100 of Figs. 1a-2b. However, the child swimsuit 500 includes further buoyancy provided at the shoulders 119. The buoyancy may also comprise closed cell foam inserts, such as EPE foam inserts. The buoyancy at the shoulders 119 may be provided to ensure that the child’s head is kept above water when swimming, thereby further helping to prevent drowning. The buoyant inserts at the shoulders may not be removeable. For example, they may be stitched into the shoulders 119 of the swimsuit 500. However, in other examples, the buoyant inserts may be removeable. As the reader will understand, swimsuits having different appearances from that shown in Figures 1-5 may be provided. For example, rather than having a shark-like appearance, a swimsuit may be provided which does not have eyes, teeth, or fins provided thereon. Different detailing may be provided. For example, different animals could be represented using different detailing, such as a horn on the hood 104 to represent a narwhal, or a beak on the hood to represent a duck or penguin, or a tail provided on the body suit to represent a mermaid. This is a non-exhaustive list of possible options. Fig. 6 shows a method of preparing the swimsuit 100 or 500 for use by a child. At step 600, a user, for example a parent or carer of the child for whom the swimsuit 100 / 500 is intended, may determine how much buoyancy the child needs in order to be safe. The user may then determine the number of buoyant inserts 126 required in order to achieve the needed buoyancy. At step 602, the user selects the required number of buoyant inserts 126, and inserts them into the pouches 106. For example, the user may split the inserts 126 evenly into the pouches 106, so as to achieve level buoyancy of the child. For example, where four buoyant inserts 126 are needed, the user may insert one buoyant insert 126 into each of the four pouches 106. Fig. 7 shows a method of teaching a child to swim using the swimsuit 100 / 500. At step 700, the user inserts a large number of buoyant inserts 126 into the pouches 106, for example insert all of the buoyant inserts 126 into the pouches 106. In some examples, therefore, four buoyant inserts 126 may be inserted into each pouch 106. Accordingly, buoyancy of the swimsuit 100 / 500 is maximised. At step 702, once the confidence or proficiency of the child when swimming has increased, the user may remove one buoyant insert 126 from each pouch 106. Step 702 may then be repeated as the confidence or proficiency of the child when swimming continues to increase. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to a specific example implementation, it will be recognized that the disclosure is not limited to the implementations described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration insofar as such modification(s) and alteration(s) remain within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

1. A child swimsuit, the swimsuit comprising:a body suit configured to cover the wearer’s torso, at least a portion of the wearer’s arms, and at least a portion of the wearer’s legs;a hood attached to the body suit, the hood configured to cover the wearer’s head; andat least one pouch provided in the body suit, the at least one pouch containing at least one buoyant insert therein;wherein each of the body suit and the hood comprises a UV-protective fabric.

2. The swimsuit of claim 1, comprising a closure at the front of the body suit or at the rear of the body suit.

3. The swimsuit of claim 2, wherein the closure comprises a zip.

4. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, comprising at least one pouch providedat the front of the body suit, and at least one pouch provided at the rear of the body suit, wherein each pouch comprises at least one buoyant insert therein.

5. The swimsuit of claim 4, comprising two pouches at the front of the body suit, and two pouches at the rear of the body suit, wherein each pouch contains at least one buoyant insert therein.

6. The swimsuit of claim 5 wherein the two pouches at the front of the body suit are arranged symmetrically relative to a vertical centreline of the swimsuit, and / or wherein the two pouches provided at the rear of the body suit are arranged symmetrically relative to a vertical centreline of the swimsuit.

7. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein each pouch comprises an opening for insertion of a buoyant insert therein or removal of a buoyant insert therefrom.

8. The swimsuit of claim 7, wherein each pouch comprises a closure for closing the opening, or wherein the opening comprises two overlapping layers of fabric having an opening therebetween.

9. The swimsuit of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein each opening is provided in an inner side of the pouch.

10. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the pouches are of the same size and shape as one another.

11. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the or each buoyant insert has substantially the same size and shape as the pouch in which it is contained.

12. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the buoyant inserts are of the same size and shape as one another.

13. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the fabric of the body suit and of the hood is elastic.

14. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the fabric of at least one pouch is elastic.

15. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the body suit, the hood, and the at least one pouch, are made of the same fabric as one another.

16. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the body suit is configured to cover at least 50% of the arms, for example at least 75% of the arms, such as substantially all of the arms.

17. The swimsuit of any preceding claim, wherein the body suit may be configured to cover at least 50% of the legs, for example at least 75% of the legs, such as substantially all of the legs.

18. A kit of parts comprising a child swimsuit and a plurality of buoyant inserts, wherein the child swimsuit comprises:a body suit configured to cover the wearer’s torso, at least a portion of the wearer’s arms, and at least a portion of the wearer’s legs;a hood attached to the body suit, the hood configured to cover the wearer’s head; andat least one pouch provided in the body suit, the at least one pouch configured for receiving at least one of the buoyant inserts therein;wherein each of the body suit and the hood comprises a UV-protective fabric.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the buoyant inserts are identical to one another.

20. The kit of claim 18, optionally wherein the swimsuit is further configuredaccording to any of claims 2 to 17.

21. A method of preparing a swimsuit or kit according to any preceding claim for use by a child, the method comprising:determining a number of buoyant inserts required in each pouch in order to provide sufficient buoyancy to the child; andinserting the required number of buoyant inserts in each pouch.

22. A method of teaching a child to swim using a swimsuit or kit according to any preceding claim, the method comprising:inserting at least two inserts into the at least one pouch in order to provide ample buoyancy to the child; andas the child’s swimming proficiency improves, gradually removing inserts from the swimsuit so as to gradually reduce the buoyancy provided by the swimsuit.s

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